STEVEN MEDHURST AND STRANGER SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN DOVER
| Red Rose Database
Dover Sexual Abuser
A man identified as Steven Medhurst, residing in Dover, has been convicted and sentenced for a series of disturbing sexual misconducts involving the slapping of women’s buttocks in public areas. The incident that led to his conviction involved his latest victim, with whom he assaulted three times during a single encounter. After the first slap, he reportedly told her, "Off you go," demonstrating a dismissive attitude towards her dignity.
Following his arrest, Medhurst, aged 62, attempted to deny the allegations by claiming that the woman was lying. His defensive stance was ultimately unsuccessful, as a jury at Canterbury Crown Court found him guilty of sexual assault beyond reasonable doubt after a trial that lasted three days. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of inappropriate behavior, with Medhurst previously denying similar accusations in cases from 2013 and 2019, involving other women whom he had also slapped.
The judge presiding over the case, Mark Weekes, delivered his verdict and sentencing last month. Medhurst was sentenced to 16 months in prison—an immediate custodial sentence—however, the judge expressed concern over the risks associated with imprisoning him instantly, considering his history and the nature of his offenses. Instead, Medhurst was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, with strict supervision and monitoring to prevent further harm, recognizing the potential danger he posed as a known sex offender who had already served a period equivalent to 21 months while in remand.
In addition to the sexual assault conviction, Medhurst faced another serious penalty for breaching conditions related to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). During the trial, it emerged that Medhurst had previously violated this order, which restricts certain behaviors and interactions, including alterations to his electronic device activities. Specifically, it was discovered that Medhurst had deleted approximately 70,000 images from his computer tower—a computer he was required to report ownership of but failed to do, further breaching court-imposed restrictions.
The court also took into account Medhurst’s history of keeping inappropriate boundaries, with evidence of his assaults occurring on three separate occasions in 2020, while he was alone and out of sight of his wife, Debra. The victim in this latest case testified that her experience left her feeling constantly on edge, traumatized, and violated. She voiced her distress, stating, "I have been left constantly looking over my shoulder. I feel dirty and violated with what he’s done to me."
Prosecutor James Benson passionately addressed the jury, emphasizing Medhurst’s pattern of behavior. He described Medhurst as a man unable to control his urge to touch women's bottoms, highlighting his discomfort—evident when asked whether his victim had a pleasant bottom, which prompted Medhurst to lie and suggest he hadn’t seen her at all, even implying that his wife Debra’s bottom was more appealing.
Defense attorney Kieran Brand urged the jury to acquit Medhurst, raising questions about the consistency of the victim’s account and referencing Medhurst's clean criminal record and his insistence on his innocence in all previous cases. He drew an allegory, comparing Medhurst to Violet Jessop, the legendary stewardess believed to have survived three shipwrecks, to illustrate that coincidences can occur and that doubt should remain.
Despite the arguments, the jury was convinced of Medhurst's guilt. They returned a unanimous verdict after deliberating for approximately an hour and seven minutes. Medhurst reacted with visible frustration; he shook his head in protest as the verdict was read, dismissing it as "amateur dramatics."
At the time of these offenses, Medhurst was out on bail and had been breaching multiple court orders, including a previous suspended sentence from 2019. His violations also included failure to notify authorities about electronic device ownership, which led to investigations revealing the deleted images.
As part of his sentencing, Medhurst was subjected to a lengthy restraining order, which prohibits him from approaching the victim or similar victims for ten years, as well as a decade of notification obligations to law enforcement agencies concerning his whereabouts and activities. His violations and pattern of misconduct highlight the ongoing risks he poses to public safety in Dover.
Following his arrest, Medhurst, aged 62, attempted to deny the allegations by claiming that the woman was lying. His defensive stance was ultimately unsuccessful, as a jury at Canterbury Crown Court found him guilty of sexual assault beyond reasonable doubt after a trial that lasted three days. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of inappropriate behavior, with Medhurst previously denying similar accusations in cases from 2013 and 2019, involving other women whom he had also slapped.
The judge presiding over the case, Mark Weekes, delivered his verdict and sentencing last month. Medhurst was sentenced to 16 months in prison—an immediate custodial sentence—however, the judge expressed concern over the risks associated with imprisoning him instantly, considering his history and the nature of his offenses. Instead, Medhurst was given a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, with strict supervision and monitoring to prevent further harm, recognizing the potential danger he posed as a known sex offender who had already served a period equivalent to 21 months while in remand.
In addition to the sexual assault conviction, Medhurst faced another serious penalty for breaching conditions related to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO). During the trial, it emerged that Medhurst had previously violated this order, which restricts certain behaviors and interactions, including alterations to his electronic device activities. Specifically, it was discovered that Medhurst had deleted approximately 70,000 images from his computer tower—a computer he was required to report ownership of but failed to do, further breaching court-imposed restrictions.
The court also took into account Medhurst’s history of keeping inappropriate boundaries, with evidence of his assaults occurring on three separate occasions in 2020, while he was alone and out of sight of his wife, Debra. The victim in this latest case testified that her experience left her feeling constantly on edge, traumatized, and violated. She voiced her distress, stating, "I have been left constantly looking over my shoulder. I feel dirty and violated with what he’s done to me."
Prosecutor James Benson passionately addressed the jury, emphasizing Medhurst’s pattern of behavior. He described Medhurst as a man unable to control his urge to touch women's bottoms, highlighting his discomfort—evident when asked whether his victim had a pleasant bottom, which prompted Medhurst to lie and suggest he hadn’t seen her at all, even implying that his wife Debra’s bottom was more appealing.
Defense attorney Kieran Brand urged the jury to acquit Medhurst, raising questions about the consistency of the victim’s account and referencing Medhurst's clean criminal record and his insistence on his innocence in all previous cases. He drew an allegory, comparing Medhurst to Violet Jessop, the legendary stewardess believed to have survived three shipwrecks, to illustrate that coincidences can occur and that doubt should remain.
Despite the arguments, the jury was convinced of Medhurst's guilt. They returned a unanimous verdict after deliberating for approximately an hour and seven minutes. Medhurst reacted with visible frustration; he shook his head in protest as the verdict was read, dismissing it as "amateur dramatics."
At the time of these offenses, Medhurst was out on bail and had been breaching multiple court orders, including a previous suspended sentence from 2019. His violations also included failure to notify authorities about electronic device ownership, which led to investigations revealing the deleted images.
As part of his sentencing, Medhurst was subjected to a lengthy restraining order, which prohibits him from approaching the victim or similar victims for ten years, as well as a decade of notification obligations to law enforcement agencies concerning his whereabouts and activities. His violations and pattern of misconduct highlight the ongoing risks he poses to public safety in Dover.